Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
4 Reyiew Of the Condition OF Farm Ami.
mails in Texas BY the AgricuI.
tnrai Department.
The Average Price for Texas Farm Ami
mals-A Growing Interest Manifest
in Horse Raising.
Corresnondence OF the Gazette.

Correspondence OF the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-In the report
on the values and numbers of farm ami
mails, lust issued by the Agricultural De-
partment, the statisticisn makes the fol-
lowing review of the condition Of farm
animals in Texas:
While there has only been slight in
crease in number and depreciation in the
value Of horses, stock raisers of North
Texas are Introducing better blood, such
as Norman, Percheron and Clydesdsle
This Improvement has been going on for
several years, and is beginning to show
in the difference between the stock gen.
orally of that section and any other part
Ct Texas, although there are enterprising
men in every county who ara imbued with
the same spirit. There is more decided
Improvement in mules than in any other
class of stock.
In mich cows there has also been not
only decided increase in number, but
marked Improvement in quality by the
Introduction OF good milk stock, Jersey
and Holstein principally. The cowmen
of the plains have not been behind in en-
terprise, although from the great number
3
degree as in milk stock. They are iutro-,
ducing by the hundreds Shorthorn, Here
ford, as well as good showing of Polled
Angus. Stockmen are becoming aroused
TO the necessity of providing shelter and
feed through the winter. There has been
great Improvement in this direction. No
disease of an epidemic character is re-
ported.
The sheep interest was at low ebb on
account of low prices of wool and NUT
ton, and every sheepman who could get
rid of his flock did so, many driving to
New Mexico; but a better feeling in the
market has caused the owners to become
encouraged and to take care of what
they have on hand. Hog cholera pre-
vailed extensively all over the state in
the summer and fall Of 1850, which cut
short the hog crop of the state and
caused the prices of stock hogs early in
| 1886 to be really higher than the market
/ justified, but the state has been FORUM
ately free from it during last year eX
cept in very few instances, and with the it,
PRODUCTION of good blood of Berkshire,
Jersey Red and Poland China, we are fast
getting out of the razor back" stage. r
In some parts Of Texas there is grow
ing IultIeSL III uOlSt idlSIuS CIOSS-Situ
colts from Mexican dams are PRODUCED in
large numbers, selling, when growp, at
$50 to $40, according to quality. Asbet-
ter cross, from large American mares, Is
worth $50 when full grown. The average
value of Texas horses Of all ages is less
than half the average of the United States,
S32. 80 to S72 -. The Arkansas markets
are aoOded with mustangs, causing re-
duCtion in price in some localities.
The average price for Texas farm ami
mails is given as follows: Oxen under
one year old, $3.50; between one and
two years, S875 between TWO and three,
| $780, over three years old, Sl7.00.
Sheep under one year, S1.O0; over one
year, sl.SO. Hogs under one year. 50;
over one year, s.. The number of farm
horses is given as l,03S,S q larger
number than any other state in the Union,
engaged in farm work. The average
| price is SO &c. making total value of
the farm horses in Texas, S33, 642, 055
| The number of mules is stated at 1S6, 046,
which, at an average price of $3.50,
would make an aggregate value of 49,
.